Fantasy / Horror Reading in November 2015

I looked around at trying to get hold of the Codex Alera books in hardback, but that doesn't seem to be doable on my budget - I'll stick with the UK paperbacks for now! I think I just enjoy Jim's writing, he's got that easy style that makes me want to keep on reading despite some of the minor flaws I spot every now and then.
 
Randy M. said:
I'm in the U.S. and haven't read the books. The U.S. covers seem generic epic fantasy to me. The U.K. covers, because of the symbols, add some mystery and because of that I prefer them.

Randy M.
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That's really interesting, Randy.

Maybe somebody pasted the UK market research results into the US column and vice versa by mistake. It seems I like US covers and you like UK. :)
 
spiralguru3d said:
That's really interesting, Randy.

Maybe somebody pasted the UK market research results into the US column and vice versa by mistake. It seems I like US covers and you like UK. :)
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You could be right. I'm in the US as well, and am complete agreement with Randy. :D
 
I finished A Stranger in Olondria yesterday.

I can't say enough good things about the worldbuilding and depth of detail in this one. I really *believed* in all the different cultures, scenes, and experiences presented, and the excerpts of prose and poetry from various other "books" felt real and vibrant. Samatar did a superb job.

This is one book I'm going to have to read, though, and I recommend that prospective readers actually *read* the thing rather than listening to it. There's nothing wrong with the narrator of the audio -- he didn't seem exceptional to me, but I have no complaints -- but the prose and detail are so dense that I really think eyes-on-the-page attention would do more justice to the writing. I listened to many passages two or three times, but I still think I'll get a lot more from the book if I go back and *read* the thing.

This one probably deserves 5 stars, but for now I'm only giving it 4. I'm not sure yet how the plot holds together. But my rating could easily go up to 5 once I have a chance to go back and actually read this -- which I do intend to do.
 
On my new "policy" of only reading fantasy when its either a stand alone book or a finished story arc, I've read comparatively little fantasy in recent months. (I'm finding a lot more stand alone crime to read.)

But have read Duncan M Hamilton's "Song of the Sword" trilogy this month. Solid enjoyable read that did come to a satisfying conclusion (while leaving key characters in world to leave scope for future tales). There's stuff I could quibble about...I certainly wouldn't class series as exceptional ...but will certainly read more by this author in the future.

The other thing I've been reading is the complete run of "Ultimate Spider-man" by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. This is a run of 133 comics telling the story from Peter Parker's gaining powers to his eventual death. Pretty well done, ignore the fact that it's "comics", and its a satisfying fantasy tale.
 
Julialynn said:
All in all, I think I will be putting more Fafhrd and Grey Mouser stories on mount TBR.
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I would definitely encourage you to stick with Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser over the seven published volumes of stories (over 30 individual pieces, I believe) that Leiber released, Julialynn! Leiber's writing style is a delight, especially his penchant for crafting mischievous dialogue and exciting action sequences.

After diving into some horror fiction and an annual reread of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes last month, I will be turning my focus on some classics this month in addition to a couple of new titles:

Arabian Nights (translated by Richard F. Burton)
Bull and the Spear (Corum #4) by Michael Moorcock
Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Hammer and the Blade by Paul Kemp
Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett
 
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Welcome, Rex. A nice eclectic mix there!

Have a look at Randy's comments in the Halloween threads about Something Wicked... it's a regular for our Halloween revelries. Julialynn's just read it too...
 
I started The Vagrant by Peter Newman last night and I'm really digging it so far. It's giving me the same feel as Daniel Polansky's Low Town books mixed with Mark Lawrence's Broken Empire, which is definitely a very good thing.
 
After seeing a 5 star review by Patrick Rothfuss (though I noticed he gives lots of 5 star reviews so normally I'f take it with a grain of salt, but the comments got me interested), I read Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen.

It's a western / dark fantasy coming-of-age mash up, and it's done very well, with a great lead character (a black woman with some gender / sexuality issues), an eclectic mix of monsters, and world-building that has some originality about it.

The western theme of the story probably dominates, and it's very reminiscent of the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurty (the author acknowledges the influence in the notes), but with a supernatural element thrown in.

A very creative and readable book - 4 stars for me.
 
Been reading the Dresden files, got through 4, I liked them so I'm going to hit some more soon. If I read a series I like to have a break, so I read the Martian chronicles which weren't as good as I remember. Currently reading Perdido street station, China Mielville. It's my first read of China's books and I'm finding the story intriguing, when he sticks to it. I don't know if anyone agrees but he seems to digress a bit into really detailed descriptions of the city, that, for me, are maybe a bit too much? When the story carries on though, I'm really liking it so far.
 
Ochos said:
Been reading the Dresden files, got through 4, I liked them so I'm going to hit some more soon. If I read a series I like to have a break, so I read the Martian chronicles which weren't as good as I remember. Currently reading Perdido street station, China Mielville. It's my first read of China's books and I'm finding the story intriguing, when he sticks to it. I don't know if anyone agrees but he seems to digress a bit into really detailed descriptions of the city, that, for me, are maybe a bit too much? When the story carries on though, I'm really liking it so far.
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I think you should stick with Perdido Street Station. I nearly gave up, but after about 250 pages, I think the story really got going, and it became a real page-turner.

The Scar seemed like it had more even pacing. The entire book was interesting.

I've also read Kraken, but I found it underwhelming.
 
Ryan Mueller said:
I think you should stick with Perdido Street Station. I nearly gave up, but after about 250 pages, I think the story really got going, and it became a real page-turner.
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Agreed, keep going and enjoy the weirdness!
 
I'm over half way, and he seems to have stopped describing every brick in every street.
 
I just finished The Girl with All the Gifts by M.J. Carey. I guess it would be classified as horror, not sci-fi. But could go either way I suppose.

Found it to be enjoyable and thought provoking. Well worth the read.
 
I finished Ship of Magic at the weekend, #1 in The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb. I enjoyed it. I have read the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies before, so some slight order issues there, but aside from a certain character's true identity, there's nothing that clashes so far. Actually, it looks like the trilogy would fill in some background to the Elderlings/Dragon side of things going on further to the north.

There was a touch more comedy in this book than in the other RotE books I've read, most notably when we spend time with the pirates. It felt lighter-of-heart to me than the Farseer books. Also, much family drama!(?) If somebody had told me that before I started reading, it might have made me think twice, but in hindsight it was fine - although sometimes I wondered why I was reading on or not skimming, mostly the sections with Malta. Gah! So I always had a reason to read the next chapter. I don't think it's even intended to be as dark and angst-ridden as the Farseer books, it's different. It's long, I think, for a first volume, but good enough to keep you in there.

For some swash-buckling on the high seas, talking ships, pirates, sea-serpents, and magic, give it a try. Oh, and the family drama. Don't forget the family drama. :)

I will read The Mad Ship some time early next year - I'm not hooked enough to start it right away even though it's on the shelf.
 
I finished up the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher the other day, so that's all six read this month. Must say that I enjoyed the series despite my initial reservations. After the third book it really kicks up a gear, and the character and plot progression was really enjoyable to read. Tavi was a great protagonist, and the final epic battle in First Lord's Fury was just jaw-droppingly insane - some of the fights would put DBZ to shame! Good stuff.
 
chitman13 said:
I finished up the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher the other day, so that's all six read this month. Must say that I enjoyed the series despite my initial reservations. After the third book it really kicks up a gear, and the character and plot progression was really enjoyable to read. Tavi was a great protagonist, and the final epic battle in First Lord's Fury was just jaw-droppingly insane - some of the fights would put DBZ to shame! Good stuff.
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Weren't you re-reading the whole of Night's Dawn this month? :)
 
Me too! Don't know how he does it... *cracks whip* :D

And there should've been a link on that earlier post too: apologies.
 
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